Page 56 of Dead Drift

The realization of what he was looking at struck like a thunderclap to his soul. “I’ll need to wait until the notes are decoded and I take this apart, but I think I was wrong about Bedan’s choice of dispersal method.”

“Not food?”

Luke shook his head.

“Why? Because of some shorthand notes and a couple cans of hairspray?”

“These aren’t cans of hairspray. I think they are prototypes.”

Declan’s eyes narrowed. “Of what?”

“Bedan’s chosen dispersal method.”

Realization dawned on Kate’s face. “Aerosol dispersal? Is that even possible?”

“Not easily, but a man with Bedan’s skills and heritage . . .”

“But how could he regulate it?” Declan asked. “Isn’t anthrax sensitive to temperature fluctuations?”

“Yes. You’d need specific conditions, but if those were met, and the anthrax stabilized in the deployment device—essentially an oversized spray can—and with the proper prevailing winds . . .” Luke’s eyes widened. “I’ve got to contact an old friend.”

“An old friend?”

“If what my gut is saying is about to happen is truly the threat against us, he may be able to provide some insight.”

“Okay.” Declan nodded.

“Just so we’re on the same page,” Luke said, “as far as I’m concerned the threat level just went DEFCON 2.”

“DEFCON 1 is war,” Kate whispered.

“A terrorist attack on U.S. soil is war, and if I’m right about this, we’re teetering on the brink of it.”

23

Luke followed Declan into his FBI office to find Kate and Tanner waiting for them with lunch. Luke had contacted his friend David the day before yesterday, after the warehouse raid, and he’d be arriving through BWI shortly. They’d agreed to meet up at CCI, as David wanted to keep his visit as unofficial as possible. With the shattered windows replaced and the space patched up reasonably well after the sniper attack, CCI would make an excellent meet-up location off the books.

Luke had approximately half an hour before he needed to head over to CCI, wanting to be there in plenty of time to greet his guest. It was odd thinking of David as a guest, though he’d been one himself a time or two when their roles were reversed and David had required his intel.

Parker was in his lab at CCI, processing the evidence retrieved from the warehouse raid. Luke was anxious to discover what he had learned, praying they’d garner more of value from the raid. Thankfully, Avery was recuperating well, so according to Parker, she was resting at home and really antsy to get back to her job. And meanwhile, Griffin and Finley were on their way to North Carolina, still tracing the killer’s steps as they made their way home.

Kate stood, assessing the bandage wrapped around Luke’s arm. It’d been two days, but the wound was best protected with a bandage for another day or two. “Any luck with the sniper you brought in?” she asked.

“Still in a cell. Refuses to talk, so we’ll keep him until he decides to cooperate,” Declan said.

“Has he called a lawyer?” she asked.

“Nope. Hasn’t even asked for one. Hasn’t spoken a word, period.”

“Good luck cracking that one,” Kate said.

“Thanks,” Declan said, before shifting his attention to Tanner. “I was hoping you’d accompany me for the next round of questioning.”

She smiled. “You got it. Want to go now?”

“Sure, if you don’t mind waiting to eat.” He gestured to the carry-out they’d brought in.

“Nah, I’m good,” she said.